Community
In one part of our community, there is a practice that intrigues me. Several houses in a row, have chairs, many just plastic well worn chairs, in a circle on their lawns. One lawn is punctuated with white chairs, another with green and still another mix of old and new, plastic and wooden. These chairs send a message of community. The chairs invite people into the circle of conversation, storytelling and laughter. The sounds of connecting after a long winter. A community of summer friends and family.
As I walk past these chairs, undefined in their stature, on my daily walk with my dogs, I often wonder about the stories that are shared. Are they the stories of dreams for the future, dreams lost or stories of connections and relationships? I wonder how one is invited into the circle? How do you know when to begin or when to end?
Community brings each of us a sense of connection in a world that is full of anxiety and concern. In many ways our world of community has grown by the use of Facebook, LinkedIn and Twitter, but the real live connections bring the real sense of understanding. A longing for community is resurfacing. Coffee shops with lounge chairs invite customers in to stay and maybe greet and talk with others, even strangers.
Neighborhoods and churches in times past created community. People are returning to these as vehicles to build connection to others and community.
Over the years, I have been blessed by being a part of a variety of communities. Mostly, these communities were created by women who needed to come together to help one another through storytelling.
Recently, one of these communities reunited for an afternoon after not being together for three years. The group initially came together fifteen or twenty years ago with the assistance of a facilitator. I actually joined the community when it was transforming form a formal gathering to informal. Over the years, we have connected and reconnected at times, meeting at the home of one of the women or for brunch at some relaxing place. We share recent stories of our lives, the heartache, the joys and dreams. Then, we depart scattering to different areas of the country with hugs and smiles to hold us until the next time we come together.
In the work that I do as a facilitator, I work hard to create an opportunity to build community by having participants sit at round tables or in a circle. I am reminded when people are in seated classroom style how a sense of community and connection is stifled.
So, why does community mater? In these trying times, community gives us the sense of belonging. A community provides us a way to support one another, spend time listening to what is important and connecting in a way that can keep our spirit alive. I hope you find community in your life to help during these challenging times.




